Matt Allen,
Generation X

Who do you trust the most?
My mom.

What is the best decision you have ever made?
Opening my shop in 1994.

Best book you’ve ever read?
I don’t read; can’t remember the last book I read.

How did you get into the automotive service business?
I first got interested when I was in elementary school when I started hanging out with neighborhood kids who were working on their cars. Then, when I was in high school, I got a job working as the “cleanup person” at a local shop.

Is there a professional goal you’re striving for that you’d like to share with us?
Not at this time.

What do you drive?
2010 Toyota Tundra.

If you had a free weekend by yourself, what would you do?
Run and hide from work and family and just sleep!

What piece of advice would you give a young person who is graduating from high school today?
Find something you’re passionate about and go for it. Also, if you’re thinking about getting into the auto repair business, look into a community college and make sure you take classes in English, computers, business and more. Today’s auto technicians need to know more than just how to fix cars.

If you could change one thing about the field in which you work – either mechanical or collision repair (or both) – what would it be?
The negative perception of our industry by the consumer.

What is one electronic gadget you cannot live without?
My iPhone.

Robert Gonzales, Generation Y

Who do you trust the most?
My father.

What is the best decision you have ever made?
Going to St. Mary’s High School (a Catholic high school) where I learned discipline and got set up for the real life.

Best book you’ve ever read?
The autobiography of Barry Sanders.

How did you get into the automotive service business?
My parents tell me that at a young age I loved to take things apart and put them back together. Because of that interest, my dad had me help him work on the car and I’ve always loved working with cars.

Is there a professional goal you’re striving for that you’d like to share with us?
Not at this time.

What do you drive?
2006 Dodge Charger (pimped out with DVDs, stereo system, nice wheels and rims, and more.)

If you had a free weekend by yourself, what would you do?
Catch up on all my unfinished projects at home!

What piece of advice would you give a young person who is graduating from high school today?
Further your education and live at home with your parents for as long as you can. The real world is not a very fun place.

If you could change one thing about the field in which you work – either mechanical or collision repair (or both) – what would it be?
I’d like to get rid of all the bad apples in our industry.

What is one electronic gadget you cannot live without?
My Droid. I smashed it and was without it for three hours and I thought I was going to die (well, not really, but you know what I mean)!